Thorin watched from the balcony. Fili and the others had been right. His people were conspiring against him - threatening with determined voices to have him overthrown and replaced with someone more reliable.

And at this point, he felt, anyone could be more reliable than he.

He had been a bloody awful king to them since his coronation. And now he was paying a steep price for his choices since then. Kili, Fili, Bilbo, the trust of his kin, and now the uneasiness of the very people he should be protecting and ruling.

It seemed his people felt Dain would be a better leader. He noticed since his return that his and those of the Iron Hills were banding together. Some even conspiring behind closed doors. And he could not scratch the itch that Dain was behind all this.

He hoped the other showed himself soon.

Thorin braced his hands on the railings of the balcony. His eyes were staring blankly at the scenery below.

"You're thinking too hard," a creature croaked from the rail beside him.

The dwarf grunted in reply. "It seems I've never really thought a lot until now."

"What do you think of?"

He gave a sigh and grimaced. "My life. How it should have ended numerous times. How I have survived it all. How I have ruined my people's trust in me. How Fili served as a better king than I. How I am damned for all eternity in this world where someone still wants my head and will stop at nothing to win."

"That's a lot on one's mind," Roäc answered. "Where's that tiny thing that used to follow you around. Haven't seen him much."

"We used to be exiled from this place when that dragon was here," he continued, ignoring the raven. "I used to demand to be treated as an equal to the people. Now that I am here and I wear this bloody crown on my head, I am not what I used to be. These... these people fear me. I can see it in their eyes."

"Tall fellow with a hat called him a hobbit? Ah, yes. That creature. What's become of him?"

Thorin did not look at the raven. "I am not a very good king. Aule only knows why I have been spared so many times."

"He dead?" The raven pressed.

"No."

Roäc wondered aloud and a little too curiously for Thorin's liking. "How is it you've not spoken of him to anyone here? I am not deaf nor blind, Thorin Oakenshield. They all have the same question as I."

Thorin turned his head as if someone called him from the hall inside.

"Don't try to get out of this one," he warned.

"I am not trying to do anything," Thorin gritted.

But the raven continued to hold his ground. "So you and him..."

"I have matters to attend to. I do not have time for this," he growled, leaving the raven perched on the rails.

Roäc made a disapproving caw as Thorin shut the door.

Ori sat beside a propped up Kili. He was clutching his book to his chest rather tightly as if he were nervous or uncomfortable with his current situation. He swallowed thickly and hesitantly looked at the healing dwarf. "So, h-how have you been?" he asked in a rather timid voice.

"Fine, I suppose." Kili answered. "Fili says I'm improving. I guess I am since I don't really remember what happened to me."

Ori nodded.

The younger dwarf studied the shy one. "And you? How are you?" He tried not to sound like he was pitying the other. "Fili told me about Nori."

The older dwarf nodded again - slowly and sadly.

"I'm sorry," he spoke when Ori didn't say much.

He shrugged as if it didn't matter anymore. "Thanks. I mean- I'm alright I guess."

Guilt crept Kili's neck. He ignored it and attempted to add a little humor to the solemn start of their conversation. "Hey, do Dwalin and Dori still hate each other?"

A small smile curved Ori's lips and a laugh bubbled from his chest. He felt himself nod in answer. "Yes, and I suppose that won't change any time soon."

He chuckled, glad to see that laughter cured Ori for a bit even if the moment didn't last that long. He nodded toward the book clutched in his hands. "What are you writing in there?"

"Oh." Ori looked down at the fine leather-bound book. "I'm continuing our adventures."

Kili raised his eyebrows in more in curiosity than surprise.

Ori beamed. "Yes, I fully restored the library and I have no other tasks but this! It's a real joy to recount everything we've been through. It'll make a great piece for the archives."

Kili smiled at his kin's happiness.

The elf sat on his perch atop the brick wall. He mindlessly picked at the curling scaffolding of the old establishment.

"These buildings have stood for hundreds of years, Legolas. I do not want to see them rot away at your hands," Bard said somewhat sternly though with good humor.

Legolas looked up. His eyebrows wiggled in greeting. "Bard, haven't seen much of you since, well, since then."

The man put his hands in his pockets. "I do not wish to involve myself in the matters of the dwarves again. Thought you were doing the same."

He chuckled at that. "It seems I can't stay away anymore." He shifted his quiver and pulled out an arrow. He lined it against the bow.

"They do not know what you have done?" Bard asked, his voice low as if the walls of Dale had ears.

"Aside from saving Kili, no," the elf spoke.

Bard bounced lazily from his heels to his toes. "You should tell them."

Legolas pursed his lips and shook his head firmly. "Not until I am certain about it. I don't want to create a folly. It seems they have had their fill of those."

The man nodded in agreement,"Wise."

"Yes." His eyes flitted across the expanse between Dale's walls and the river that ran in front of the mountain, watching dwarves and men alike go about their daily lives of trade and work. He turned his head to Bard again. "Mind if I sit here for a while?"

"Watching the mountain?"

He grunted, "Watching the field."

Bard stuck his hands in his pockets. He hardly wanted a say in the dwarves business especially after everything his people had been through because of said dwarves. But that wasn't going to stop him from being naturally curious. That and if Legolas committed the crime sitting on his walls, he, re-builder of Dale would be blamed by the narrow-minded dwarves. "You gonna kill him?"

"No," the elf said though he contemplated for a mere moment. "Save that for Thorin to do."

"Wise," the man nodded again.

Legolas sent him a look. "So you said."

Bard chuckled. "Meddling in the dealings of dwarves. Good luck, my friend." He patted Legolas' shoulder before he descended the stairs, leaving the elf to his lonesome.

"I'm not the one who's going to need luck," he muttered to himself. He looked back to the field where Stonehelm wandered aimlessly.

Frodo scampered through the forest.

The elves had given him a cloak and he laughed at the way it blew behind him in the slight breeze. He imagined himself on some grand adventure - as if the adventure he had with Uncle Bilbo had not nearly been enough.

He jumped off a stone and landed gracefully on his hobbit feet. He imagined he was back at in the Old Forest near the Shire. He pretended he met the famed Tom Bombadil and his wife Goldberry.

Their story were merely tales by the fire at home, but he wanted to see their story come to life.

He tumbled through the brush, carefree as any young hobbit lad.

The the brush tumbled back and he stopped. His feet felt heavy and he couldn't move them. He couldn't run away back to Bilbo. The brush moved again and he heard a growl.

His feet sprung back to life and he took off faster than he anticipated. The Elven border was upon him quickly and he ran into Bilbo.

"What is it now, Frodo?" the older hobbit asked the younger one exasperatedly.

Frodo pointed to the brush. "A m-monster, Uncle. I heard it growl."

Bilbo heaved a sigh. He decided he should check out this famed 'monster' if he were to get any peace from clingy Frodo any time soon. He took Frodo's hand and led the reluctant boy back into the forest.

Frodo whimpered and Bilbo heard the growl. He ignored his heart jumping into his throat. He needed to put on a brave and nonchalant face for the frightened hobbit.

The elves were a hop, skip, and a jump away. He could investigate safely.

He peeled back the brush the growl came from and his jaw dropped in shock.

"Nori?"